ecclesia

Ancient citizen gathering

Ecclesia is a formal or scholarly term for a church or religious assembly, borrowed from Greek where it meant a gathering of citizens.

In ancient Athens, the ecclesia was the principal assembly of the democracy.

Christian writers adopted the word for the body of believers: The ecclesia is called to serve the world.

It appears in ecclesiastical vocabulary—words relating to church matters.

church

congregation

Assembled group of worshippers

basilicaColonnaded church with apse
cathedralBishop's principal church
parishLocal church community

diocese · clergy · bishop · laity · liturgy · sacrament · worship · altar · communion · apostolic

theological

called out

Vocally summoned or criticized

electChoose by vote
saintsCanonized religious figures
believersThose having faith

covenant · kingdom · body · bride · fellowship · koinonia · community · apostolic · universal · visible

assembly

convocation

Formal ceremonial gathering

gatheringCollection of people meeting
conveneFormally gather together
summitPeak or diplomatic gathering

council · deliberation · quorum · plenary · congregation · forum · delegates · session · convention · caucus

ancient

Athenian

Ancient Greek city-dweller

agoraGreek civic square
polisGreek sovereign urban center
assemblyConstructing from components

citizens · boule · demos · Solon · Pericles · archon · ostracism · demagogue · quorum · rhetoric

Opposites

political assembly type

ecclesiasenate

Legislative governing body

aristocracy · oligarchy · boule · tyranny · monarchy

sacred vs. secular gathering

ecclesiaparliament

National legislative assembly

agora · forum · marketplace · legislature · town hall

collective vs. individual

ecclesiaindividual

One separate human being

hermit · anchorite · solitary · recluse · apostate

Phrases

ecclesiastical LatinLanguage of Christian liturgy

Family

ecclesiastical, ecclesiastic, ecclesiology, ecclesiastically

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